HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0589.027 2020-2022 / I
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February 22,2022
TO:Hawai'i County Council COUMCLERK
Hearing:Thursday, February 23,2022,at 9:00 a.m. COUNW OF HAWArl
RE:Strong Support of Bill 111 RECUVED
Dear Chair and Council Members,
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I am writing this testimony in strong support of Bill 111.
My name is Kimi Palacio and I am writing as the Director of Operations for Going Home Hawaii,a
Hawaii County based nonprofit organization that is also a member of the Community Alliance Partners
(CAP). I am writing in support of Bill 111,which would appropriate at least 75%of the property tax
revenue that is currently collected from second homes valued over$2 million.
The mission of Going Home Hawaii(GHH) is to assist justice involved Hawaii Island men,women and
youth with reintegration into community life through employment, education, housing and appropriate
services. GHH successfully operates Reentry& Recovery Housing programs in both East and West
Hawaii Island,with a total capacity of 84 beds in three apartment buildings in Kailua-Kona and three
houses in Hilo.All our housing program services are provided in a well-managed,structured,clean and
sober environment.These programs are proven successful,especially when they are adequately funded.
Homelessness is a traumatic experience.Whether someone is on the street for one night or for ten
years,the trauma they experience can become a complex and vicious cycle of health issues(which
include mental health/substance abuse), low wages, inability to become employed,violence,abuse,
arrest, incarceration,and broken support systems. If these issues are not adequately addressed,and if
the person is not able to heal,they are unlikely to become a productive, law abiding, member of our
community. Offenders are the costliest segment of the homeless population due to their high utilization
of enforcement, court, reincarceration, medical services, mental health,substance use and other related
services.
Nearly all incarcerated persons in Hawai'i will be released back to their communities at some point. For
almost two decades, Going Home Hawai'i and its Consortium of community partners have helped 3
former prisoners return successfully to their communities.Without such help, returning prisoners face
homelessness, unemployment, lack of training,substance abuse and mental health issues, poor social
support,and a range of other problems that may lead to recidivism.Successful reintegration for the
formerly incarcerated is one of the most important crime-prevention tools our communities have. Going
Home Hawai'i dedicates ourselves to evidence-based practices that support the critical need for reentry
services that reduces recidivism and provides alternatives for justice-involved individuals who are facing
the harmful cycle of homelessness upon their release from incarceration.
Bill 111 will be able to provide funding and resources also needed to provide comprehensive post-
release housing programs to assist justice-involved homeless persons through the process of reentry,
rehabilitation,employment,education,training,and housing are critical to the successful transition
from incarceration to community.
Comm. No.
Ref. T : PILDILAW11
Ref. Dote FEB 2 3 2021
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With federal COVID money drying up in September,and state funding that is unreliable and inadequate,
we need our county to step up and make sure that programs like ours are well resourced,so that we can
continue to moue the needle on homelessness.
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Mahalo,
Kimi Palacio
Going Home Hawaii, Director of Operations
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